JNN 25 Jan 2013 Kabul : Afghan MP Hafiz Mansour says that Islamabad’s decision to release a number of Afghan Taliban prisoners is politically motivated and could even damage the peace process in neighboring Afghanistan.

In an interview with the Fars News Agency correspondent in Kabul published on Tuesday, Mansour said, “Pakistan has released the prisoners to placate the Afghan government, while the decision also increases Islamabad’s opportunities for cooperation with the Taliban in the future.”

He also noted that the decision will seriously harm the prospects for peace in Afghanistan because it strengthens the Taliban and gives the group a freer hand to implement their plans in the country.

“Islamabad is not worried about the instability in Afghanistan but is trying to realize its political objectives in the neighboring country,” the senior member of the Afghan parliament added.

“Pakistan has never adopted an honest stance in dealing with the issue of terrorism, and under international pressure, the government in Islamabad is sometimes compelled to imprison elements of the Taliban,” Mansour said in conclusion.